WI: Caligula Succeeded in Moving to Alexandria

As the title says, what have happened in Caligula succeeded in moving the capital of the Roman Empire to Alexandria?
 
As the title says, what have happened in Caligula succeeded in moving the capital of the Roman Empire to Alexandria?
The moment he actualy leaves Rome, he would be declared unroman and someone else declares himself emperor. If Caligula has any support in the east, it means civil war. If he doesn't, he will get executed.
 
The moment he actualy leaves Rome, he would be declared unroman and someone else declares himself emperor. If Caligula has any support in the east, it means civil war. If he doesn't, he will get executed.
What if he forces the senators to move along with him?
 
What if he forces the senators to move along with him?

Same fortune as Nero.

This is too much! The senate would finally pick a loyal legate of a province army, declare caligula enemy of SPQR, and this is Caligulas end.

The senators are fleeing north, and e.g. Aulus Plautius is marching with some illyrian legions south. End of story. Probably no civil war, because the commander of the syrian army is Plautius father-in-law. The moesian army would do nothing, because it is rather small, the commander is very old, and sitting between the pannonian and syrian army. And the rhine-army does not like Caligula that much, after his weird manoeuvres at the channel.

And remember, Caligula was murdered by a praetorian tribune. So they would probably not support him, if legions are marching.
 
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Same fortune as Nero.

This is too much! The senate would finally pick a loyal legate of a province army, declare caligula enemy of SPQR, and this is Caligulas end.

The senators are fleeing north, and e.g. Aulus Plautius is marching with some illyrian legions south. End of story. Probably no civil war, because the commander of the syrian army is Plautius father-in-law. The moesian army would do nothing, because it is rather small, the commander is very old, and sitting between the pannonian and syrian army. And the rhine-army does not like Caligula that much, after his weird manoeuvres at the channel.

And remember, Caligula was murdered by a praetorian tribune. So they would probably not support him, if legions are marching.
Seeing how Caligula is completely nuts,what if he suddenly declares changing the capital to Alexandria and forcing the senators to move there with him on the same day?By the time the messages the senators sent reached any major commander,they'd be long gone in Alexandria.
 
He wasn't.

This!

He knew, that he is most probably dead, an hour after he gave the praetorians the order to capture all senators. Some praetorians do not like him. And the prefects are not fully nuts!

The cohortes urbana supported the senate after his death. And do not underestimate the plebs urbana. The praetorians knew, that Rome could become a slaughterhouse before they can leave it.

And even if Caligula manages to leave Rome, the legions would march to Rome, no matter where Caligula is. Remember, Legates are senators, too. If Caligula reaches Egypt, his fortune is not like Nero, as I mentioned above. It is rather like Pompeius!

Caligula is very aware, of the power of the senate. Why do you think, he hated these aristocrats that much?
 
Caligula is very aware, of the power of the senate. Why do you think, he hated these aristocrats that much?
This very much. I don't see Caligula as insane, but rather I see him as making a calculating power play-he didn't want to play by the senate's rules and essentially looked to marginalize them. And not surprisingly, the Senators hated him for it, just as much as he hated them.
 
Interestingly, with this calculated "crazy" game, he played with the aristocrats, he contributed a lot to the development of the principate. This is at least the common opinion amongst historians these days.

He showed his succuessors, how far they could go with autocracy. He paved the way for a more autocratic principate. Augustus and Tiberius respected the senate more than necessary. The credit belongs to Caligula.

Perhaps he was crazy. But more likely he was just very clever.
 
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